Sonny Bono

In light of his dwindling music and acting career after divorcing Cher in 1975, the conservative entertainer embarked on a successful political career. In 1988, he was elected mayor of Palm Springs, Calif., an office he held for four years. Although he lost his bid for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 1992, he was elected to the House two years later, representing California’s 44th congressional district until he died in a skiing accident in 1998 at age 62.